Written Answers Tuesday 29 April 2008

Scottish Executive

Audiology

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the performance of the £3 million contract awarded to Queen Margaret University in 2005 to allow the Audiology Modernisation programme to deliver the graduate diploma in audiology, the BSc honours degree in audiology and the continuing professional development courses for existing audiologists.

Shona Robison: Under the terms of the contract, NHS Education for Scotland (NES) has established a steering group, the remit of which includes providing expertise to support the development of education and training for audiology at Queen Margaret University (QMU), and all aspects in relation of the monitoring and performance management of the contract. The steering group meets quarterly and is attended by Scottish Government officials and representatives of QMU, NES, the voluntary sector and NHS audiology departments The Audiology Services Advisory Group, the body responsible for advising the Scottish Government on audiology issues, also monitors progress.

Audiology

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS Education for Scotland in relation to success of the delivery of the BSc honours degree in audiology, the graduate diploma in audiology and the continuing professional development courses at Queen Margaret University.

Shona Robison: Officials attend NHS Education for Scotland (NES) Steering Group meetings and liaise closely with NES on issues as necessary.

Audiology

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many graduates of Queen Margaret University’s graduate diploma in audiology course have successfully entered employment with the NHS in Scotland as audiologists.

Shona Robison: Four of the graduates of the diploma in audiology course are currently employed in the NHS in Scotland as audiologists. A number of students are also employed in the NHS in Scotland as assistant audiologists who are still to complete all of the components of their programme.

Audiology

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many qualified audiologists it estimates will be available to the NHS in Scotland by 2012 via the graduate diploma in audiology course delivered by Queen Margaret University.

Shona Robison: We estimate that there will be approximately 43 graduates of the graduate diploma in audiology course available to work in the NHS by 2012. The September 2008 intake is the final intake of the graduate diploma route.

Audiology

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many qualified audiologists it estimates will be available to the NHS in Scotland by 2012 via the BSc honours in audiology course delivered by Queen Margaret University.

Shona Robison: We estimate that there will be approximately 55 graduates eligible to enter the NHS in Scotland via the BSc (Hons) Audiology route by 2012.

Central Heating

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households in each local authority area use oil-fired central heating, broken down by available age profile.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) had the following results for the combined years 2003-04 to 2005-06:

  Scottish House Condition Survey 2003-04 to 2005-06: Person Aged 60 or Over in Household by Presence of Oil-Fired Central Heating

  

 Local Authority 
 Person aged 60 or Over in Household
 Total Households


 No
 Yes


 Oil-Fired Central Heating
 Not Oil-Fired Central Heating
 Oil-Fired Central Heating
 Not Oil-Fired Central Heating


 Aberdeen
 -
 60,000
 1,000
 40,000
 100,000


 Aberdeenshire
 13,000
 52,000
 8,000
 26,000
 99,000


 Angus
 3,000
 26,000
 2,000
 20,000
 50,000


 Argyll and Bute
 3,000
 21,000
 3,000
 15,000
 42,000


 Clackmannanshire
 -
 13,000
 -
 8,000
 22,000


 Dumfries and Galloway
 5,000
 31,000
 6,000
 26,000
 68,000


 Dundee
 -
 42,000
 -
 23,000
 65,000


 East Ayrshire
 -
 32,000
 1,000
 20,000
 53,000


 East Dunbartonshire
 -
 26,000
 -
 17,000
 43,000


 East Lothian
 1,000
 23,000
 1,000
 16,000
 40,000


 East Renfrewshire
 -
 23,000
 -
 13,000
 36,000


 Edinburgh
 -
 148,000
 -
 62,000
 210,000


 Eilean Siar
 3,000
 4,000
 3,000
 3,000
 13,000


 Falkirk
 -
 40,000
 1,000
 26,000
 67,000


 Fife
 3,000
 85,000
 -
 69,000
 157,000


 Glasgow
 -
 171,000
 1,000
 103,000
 275,000


 Highland
 17,000
 43,000
 8,000
 31,000
 99,000


 Inverclyde
 -
 23,000
 -
 14,000
 37,000


 Midlothian
 1,000
 21,000
 -
 11,000
 33,000


 Moray
 3,000
 18,000
 3,000
 14,000
 38,000


 North Ayrshire
 1,000
 40,000
 1,000
 21,000
 62,000


 North Lanarkshire
 -
 95,000
 -
 45,000
 140,000


 Orkney
 2,000
 4,000
 1,000
 2,000
 9,000


 Perth and Kinross
 4,000
 33,000
 2,000
 24,000
 63,000


 Renfrewshire
 -
 48,000
 1,000
 28,000
 78,000


 Scottish Borders
 3,000
 27,000
 4,000
 17,000
 51,000


 Shetland
 2,000
 5,000
 1,000
 2,000
 10,000


 South Ayrshire
 1,000
 27,000
 1,000
 21,000
 51,000


 South Lanarkshire
 3,000
 82,000
 4,000
 45,000
 133,000


 Stirling
 2,000
 20,000
 1,000
 13,000
 36,000


 West Dunbartonshire
 -
 25,000
 -
 18,000
 43,000


 West Lothian
 1,000
 48,000
 -
 20,000
 70,000


 Scotland
 71,000
 1,356,000
 54,000
 813,000
 2,293,000



  Note: Estimate is less than 500.

  The 95% confidence limits are shown in the next table. The SHCS is a sample survey and therefore all figures are estimates rather than precise counts. If a different sample had been taken at the same time, a slightly different estimate would have resulted. If 100 sample surveys were conducted, 95 of them would provide an estimate within the range given by the confidence intervals.

  Scottish House Condition Survey 2003-04 to 2005-06: Person Aged 60 or Over in Household by Presence of Oil-Fired Central Heating - 95% Confidence Intervals

  

 Local Authority
 Person aged 60 or Over in Household


 No
 Yes


 Oil-Fired Central Heating +/-
 Not Oil-Fired Central Heating +/-
 Oil-Fired Central Heating +/-
 Not Oil-Fired Central Heating +/-


 Aberdeen
 1,000 
 6,000 
 1,000 
 6,000 


 Aberdeenshire
 4,000 
 6,000 
 3,000 
 5,000 


 Angus
 1,000 
 3,000 
 1,000 
 3,000 


 Argyll and Bute
 1,000 
 3,000 
 1,000 
 3,000 


 Clackmannanshire
 - 
 1,000 
 - 
 1,000 


 Dumfries and Galloway
 2,000 
 4,000 
 2,000 
 4,000 


 Dundee
 - 
 4,000 
 - 
 4,000 


 East Ayrshire
 1,000 
 3,000 
 1,000 
 3,000 


 East Dunbartonshire
 - 
 3,000 
 - 
 3,000 


 East Lothian
 1,000 
 2,000 
 1,000 
 2,000 


 East Renfrewshire
 - 
 2,000 
 - 
 2,000 


 Edinburgh
 - 
 8,000 
 - 
 8,000 


 Eilean Siar
 1,000 
 1,000 
 1,000 
 1,000 


 Falkirk
 1,000 
 4,000 
 1,000 
 4,000 


 Fife
 2,000 
 8,000 
 1,000 
 8,000 


 Glasgow
 - 
 10,000 
 1,000 
 10,000 


 Highland
 5,000 
 6,000 
 3,000 
 6,000 


 Inverclyde
 - 
 2,000 
 - 
 2,000 


 Midlothian
 1,000 
 2,000 
 - 
 2,000 


 Moray
 1,000 
 2,000 
 1,000 
 2,000 


 North Ayrshire
 1,000 
 4,000 
 1,000 
 4,000 


 North Lanarkshire
 - 
 6,000 
 1,000 
 6,000 


 Orkney
 - 
 1,000 
 - 
 - 


 Perth and Kinross
 2,000 
 4,000 
 2,000 
 4,000 


 Renfrewshire
 - 
 4,000 
 1,000 
 4,000 


 Scottish Borders
 1,000 
 3,000 
 2,000 
 3,000 


 Shetland
 - 
 1,000 
 - 
 1,000 


 South Ayrshire
 1,000 
 3,000 
 1,000 
 3,000 


 South Lanarkshire
 2,000 
 8,000 
 3,000 
 8,000 


 Stirling
 1,000 
 2,000 
 - 
 2,000 


 West Dunbartonshire
 - 
 3,000 
 - 
 3,000 


 West Lothian
 1,000 
 4,000 
 1,000 
 4,000 


 Scotland
 9,000 
 23,000 
 8,000 
 22,000

Central Heating

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the increase in the cost of domestic oil-fired central heating has been in the last year.

Stewart Maxwell: The annual average cost of installing an oil fired heating system under the central heating programme, as notified by the managing agent, Scottish Gas, is shown in the following table:

  

 Period
 Average Cost (£)


 2006-07
 5,587


 2007-08
 5,816



  Notes:

  1. The figures provided include vat.

  2. The figures are for properties with all appropriate insulation measures provided.

Defence

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the working group examining the removal of Trident from the Clyde.

Bruce Crawford: The remit of the Working Group on Scotland without Nuclear Weapons may be found on the Scottish Government website at:

  www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/swnw-working-group/remit.

Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration is being given to amending the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government is considering what amendments to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 may be required. Further information will be available in due course.

External Relations

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning will make a written statement on the outcome of her visit to China.

Fiona Hyslop: The information requested is provided in a letter I have written to the Presiding Officer, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45499).

Fisheries

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether plans are in hand to award a contract for the construction of an additional fisheries protection vessel as a consequence of recent developments in the management of the fishing grounds policed by Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency patrol vessels.

Richard Lochhead: The maintenance of the most effective and appropriate fleet disposition for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency is an on-going priority for the Scottish Government.

  Due to a range of considerations, including discussions in the context of the forthcoming Marine Bill about the scope and nature of future enforcement activity, we do not believe that the immediate awarding of a contract for an additional fisheries protection vessel would make sense for Scotland.

Fisheries

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the review of the Scottish Fishery Protection Agency’s Fleet Renewal Programme will be published.

Richard Lochhead: I have today placed a copy of the review in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43082) and sent a copy to the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee.

Justice

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority has spent on the provision of CCTV facilities in each of the last five years.

Fergus Ewing: The information requested is not held centrally.

NHS Staff

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Post Graduate Medical Training Board ensures that promoted posts for trainee doctors are appropriate in meeting the needs of the workforces of hospitals.

Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11997 on 25 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website; the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  The numbers of training posts needed to meet the workforce needs of hospitals is determined through use of a supply and demand model informed by input from NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and NHS Scotland Board workforce plans.

  Training posts are grouped together into training programmes, and each training programme is approved by NES as well as prospectively by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB). Each post within a hospital-based training programme requires a stated level of competence, and as trainees progress through their training the level of service contribution they deliver is commensurate with the workforce needs of their NHS board as set out in workforce plans.

National Conversation

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the number of responses received to the National Conversation by (a) email, (b) letter and (c) other methods.

Nicola Sturgeon: The government’s key aim in holding a National Conversation is to allow people to debate, reflect, and then decide how they wish to be governed in the future. The way in which people choose to engage in the debate will vary, but the government is committed to ensuring that everyone who wants to add their voice to the debate has the opportunity to do so.

  The website has been the main focus of responses during the first phase of the conversation, and as of 22 April, there had been 3,606 comments posted on the National Conversation website, and 311 emails to the "join in" mailbox on the site. In addition, the government has directly received over 130 pieces of correspondence from organisations and individuals. It is not possible to provide a precise breakdown due to the processes involved.

National Conversation

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimate is of the cost of the National Conversation; how many staff are involved in the initiative, and when it expects to provide a report to the Parliament.

Nicola Sturgeon: All costs relating to the National Conversation have been met from existing budgets. There are currently the equivalent of three full-time members of staff in the National Conversation co-ordination team.

  The design, publication, translation and launch of Choosing Scotland’s Future cost approximately £48,000. Other National Conversation events have so far cost around £10,300. Funding of approximately £87,000 over two years has been made available to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and Young Scot to facilitate the National Conversation among the third sector and young people respectively.

  I have offered to provide evidence to the Europe and External Affairs Committee before the summer recess.

Police

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers (a) Lothian and Borders Police and (b) Fife Constabulary have to close or limit traffic on the Forth Road Bridge.

Kenny MacAskill: The police have powers under Section 163 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to stop traffic on any public road including the Forth Road Bridge.

  The police also enforce traffic regulation orders made by the Forth Estuary Transport Authority which has responsibility for the management of the traffic on the Forth Road Bridge.

Police

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police were on leave pending an inquiry following a complaint in each of the last five years, broken down by the nature of complaint.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.

Police

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the roles are of (a) local police forces and (b) HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in investigating and establishing misconduct on the part of police officers and what discretion these organisations have in taking disciplinary proceedings if misconduct is established.

Kenny MacAskill: Chief constables are solely responsible for operational matters within their police force. This includes investigating and establishing misconduct and taking disciplinary proceedings where necessary. Detailed rules for handling cases of misconduct or inefficiency are set out in the Police (Conduct) (Scotland) Regulations 1996 and the Police (Efficiency) (Scotland) Regulations 1996. Similar regulations apply to senior officer ranks. HM Inspectorate of Constabulary has no locus in police officer misconduct proceedings.

Prison Service

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have been held between the Scottish Prison Commission and members of prison visiting committees.

Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11615 on 28 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many covert surveillance operations were carried out by local authorities against (a) individuals and (b) private businesses in each year since 2002, broken down by local authority.

Kenny MacAskill: The use of covert surveillance in Scotland is governed by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000. Section 8(3) of the act gives local authorities the power to authorise the use of covert surveillance for the purpose of preventing crime or detecting crime or preventing disorder; in the interests of public safety, or for the purpose of protecting public health. The Scottish Government does not collect any information on the use made of these provisions by local government.

  Independent oversight of this process is provided by the Office of the Chief Surveillance Commissioner, who reports annually. Copies of his latest annual report for 2006-07 are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43165).

Road Accidents

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many casualties have resulted from road accidents on the A724 in each year since 1999, broken down by severity.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of reported casualties involved in accidents, identified as occurring on the A724.

  Road Accident Casualties on the A724 by Severity, 1999 to 2006

  

 Year
 Killed
 Serious
 Slight
 All Severities


 1999
 1
 16
 53
 70


 2000
 0
 10
 50
 60


 2001
 1
 9
 50
 60


 2002
 0
 7
 37
 44


 2003
 1
 3
 31
 35


 2004
 0
 8
 44
 52


 2005
 0
 5
 48
 53


 2006
 0
 5
 39
 44



  Source: Scottish Government (STATS 19 return).

Road Accidents

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many casualties have resulted from road accidents on the A72 in each year since 1999, broken down by severity.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of reported casualties involved in accidents, identified as occurring on the A72.

  Road Accident Casualties on the A72 by Severity, 1999 to 2006

  

 Year
 Killed
 Serious
 Slight
 All Severities


 1999
 0
 14
 62
 76


 2000
 1
 7
 72
 80


 2001
 1
 12
 80
 93


 2002
 3
 17
 78
 98


 2003
 7
 15
 100
 122


 2004
 3
 17
 70
 90


 2005
 0
 15
 78
 93


 2006
 3
 14
 74
 91



  Source: Scottish Government (STATS 19 return).

Road Accidents

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many casualties have resulted from road accidents on the B755 in each year since 1999, broken down by severity.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of reported casualties involved in accidents, identified as occurring on the B755.

  Road Accident Casualties on the B755 by Severity, 1999 to 2006

  

 Year
 Killed
 Serious
 Slight
 All Severities


 1999
 0
 0
 1
 1


 2000
 0
 0
 4
 4


 2001
 0
 1
 6
 7


 2002
 0
 1
 5
 6


 2003
 0
 0
 7
 7


 2004
 0
 1
 3
 4


 2005
 0
 0
 2
 2


 2006
 0
 0
 5
 5



  Source: Scottish Government (STATS 19 return).

Road Accidents

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many casualties have resulted from road accidents on the B7071 in each year since 1999, broken down by severity.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of reported casualties involved in accidents, identified as occurring on the B7071.

  Road Accident Casualties on the B7071 by Severity, 1999 to 2006

  

 Year
 Killed
 Serious
 Slight
 All Severities


 1999
 0
 5
 22
 27


 2000
 0
 5
 17
 22


 2001
 0
 3
 39
 42


 2002
 0
 1
 20
 21


 2003
 0
 2
 14
 16


 2004
 0
 0
 18
 18


 2005
 0
 1
 18
 19


 2006
 0
 0
 16
 16



  Source: Scottish Government (STATS 19 return).

Road Accidents

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many casualties have resulted from road accidents on the B7012 in each year since 1999, broken down by severity.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of reported casualties involved in accidents, identified as occurring on the B7012.

  Road Accident Casualties on the B7012 by Severity, 1999 to 2006

  

 Year
 Killed
 Serious
 Slight
 All Severities


 1999
 0
 0
 5
 5


 2000
 0
 1
 17
 18


 2001
 0
 6
 3
 9


 2002
 0
 3
 5
 8


 2003
 0
 2
 11
 13


 2004
 0
 0
 7
 7


 2005
 0
 1
 4
 5


 2006
 0
 4
 11
 15



  Source: Scottish Government (STATS 19 return).

Road Accidents

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many casualties have resulted from road accidents on the B758 in each year since 1999, broken down by severity.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of reported casualties involved in accidents, identified as occurring on the B758.

  Road Accident Casualties on the B758 by Severity, 1999 to 2006

  

 Year
 Killed
 Serious
 Slight
 All Severities


 1999
 0
 1
 18
 19


 2000
 0
 2
 12
 14


 2001
 1
 5
 18
 24


 2002
 0
 1
 7
 8


 2003
 0
 0
 12
 12


 2004
 0
 2
 7
 9


 2005
 0
 2
 7
 9


 2006
 0
 2
 13
 15



  Source: Scottish Government (STATS 19 return).

Science

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in which year the Scottish Institute for Cell Signalling will open.

Fiona Hyslop: I will be discussing plans to take forward the institute, including its opening, when I visit Sir Philip Cohen in Dundee next week. My expectation is that the institute will open towards the end of this year.

Scottish Ministerial Code

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any minister has been disciplined under the Scottish Ministerial Code since May 2007 and, if so, what the circumstances were in each case.

Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Ministerial Code details the arrangements for the conduct of affairs by ministers and provides guidance by listing the principles and the precedents which may apply. The code is not a rule book, nor does it include or imply a complaints process. However, where a member, or any other party, writes to the First Minister to draw his attention to matters relating to the code, they will receive a formal reply from him or his office. The First Minister has received six letters since May 2007 which make reference to the code and are expressed in terms that make clear the correspondent wishes to draw his attention to matters of ministerial conduct. All have been received from members of the Scottish Parliament. After proper consideration of each case the First Minister has confirmed that he considers ministers had acted appropriately.